Disability Services Minister Tracy Davis said the Newman Government would continue to be a strong supporter of the National Disability Insurance Scheme and work to improve the lives of people with a disability.

“The Newman Government has always been very clear that we want the NDIS here in Queensland and that we want to be part of this national disability reform,” Ms Davis said.

“To make this national scheme work it must be funded by the Commonwealth, which is what the Productivity Commission recommended, and a long-term plan needs to be put in place to provide certainty for people across the country.

“As a result of the debt we inherited from the former Labor Government there is just not the money at the moment to direct additional funds towards a launch site.

“We want to be contributing more towards disability services and the Premier has made it very clear that we will consider further funding when the Queensland budget is in a stronger position.”

Ms Davis said the government would be closely watching the trial sites to learn from their experiences and prepare Queensland for the national roll out of the scheme, which is due by 2018.

“In the meantime, we will continue to work collaboratively with the Australian Government and other States and Territories about the scheme’s funding governance and long term sustainability,” she said.

“I want to say to people with a disability, their families and their carers that the Newman Government is committed to working on behalf of people with a disability to improve the support and opportunities they receive.”